Researchers
plan to increase the efficiency of these trees and plants' natural
processes that allow them to remove carbon
dioxide from the air by transforming it into "long-lived"
forms of carbon. They would like to do this first in vegetation, and
eventually in soil.

Genetically
altering trees and plants' absorption of light isn't all these
researchers are looking to do, though. In addition, they'd like to
make it so that these plants send more carbon into their roots as
well, which would transform some of it into soil carbon. This could
stifle the carbon and keep it from the air for centuries.

Researchers
are also genetically altering plants to "better withstand"
the complications of growing on marginal land in order to produce
improved food crops and bioenergy.
This could increase the amount of carbon plants take in from the air
significantly.

The
combination of genetically altered trees and plants sending carbon to
its roots to be put to rest for centuries along with improved
bioenergy and food crop production could yield results that are
beneficial to fighting
global warming and its consequences.